In a(n) ______, the HMO directly employs physicians and other health care professionals to provide services to their members.

• A. Group Model HMO
• B. Staff Model
• C. Network Model HMO
• D. Integrated Delivery System

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is direct employment of clinicians by the HMO. In a staff model HMO, the organization hires physicians and other health care professionals as employees and provides services in HMO-owned clinics or facilities. This gives the HMO centralized control over staffing, practice patterns, scheduling, and utilization, which often strengthens cost control and standardization of care.

This differs from other models where doctors are part of independent practices or groups that contract with the HMO. A group model HMO works with a single physician group that employs its own doctors but is not directly on the HMO’s payroll. A network model HMO contracts with multiple independent physician groups. An integrated delivery system involves broader ownership and coordination of both payer and provider functions, not necessarily direct employment of all clinicians by the HMO.